The Soccer 1% wrote:I've not studied them or watched them with a critical eye (I don't really have one). But, does their year playing substandard competition in OCL and Silver hurt their development?

The only kid that stood out to me was the one slinging corner kicks across the goal like she was teaching it.

Who knows. I can't see how playing substandard competition is going to help you. That said, as i mentioned having the depth they have should help making competitive practices.

You bring up a good point. The kid slinging corner kicks stands out. No offense, that is the problem with 90% of soccer parents is that we lack a critical eye for what is good soccer. We think a kid who can sling a corner or boot it from 40 is a great player and he or she stands out. We don't see the other 90% of the game where the coach is trying to hide that kid and/or they are failing the team. I hate the idea of "specialty" players at this age and bringing them up based upon one skill is a disservice to the player in the long run.

That assumption. Doesn't apply to this team or coach. Agree with most everything else you said, though.

The Soccer 1% wrote:I've not studied them or watched them with a critical eye (I don't really have one). But, does their year playing substandard competition in OCL and Silver hurt their development?

The only kid that stood out to me was the one slinging corner kicks across the goal like she was teaching it.

Who knows. I can't see how playing substandard competition is going to help you. That said, as i mentioned having the depth they have should help making competitive practices.

You bring up a good point. The kid slinging corner kicks stands out. No offense, that is the problem with 90% of soccer parents is that we lack a critical eye for what is good soccer. We think a kid who can sling a corner or boot it from 40 is a great player and he or she stands out. We don't see the other 90% of the game where the coach is trying to hide that kid and/or they are failing the team. I hate the idea of "specialty" players at this age and bringing them up based upon one skill is a disservice to the player in the long run.

That assumption. Doesn't apply to this team or coach. Agree with most everything else you said, though.

Just for the record and clarity, I wasn't discussing or intending to discuss any particular kid on any team. I may have poorly worded so that it appeared that way but my comment was about soccer parents and kids in general.

I haven't watched Griffin since last year and don't recall these "specialty players" and have no clue who does their corners. My point is parents in general lack a discerning eye for good soccer. We celebrate a kid "booting" versus making a proper outlet pass. We praise the kid who just stands there at the top (she has a big foot) and harms the team the majority of the game but by gosh those two goals she scored when the ball came to her were wonderful. We fail to see simple possession plays as good soccer and praise the kid who recklessly dives in and fouls a player (thats good soccer in most eyes).

Now to take it further, i'm tired of seeing coaches take these kids who are overmatched in every area of the game minus one particular area (ie corners). Or coaches taking kids who are simply big and fast but have little redeemable skills. These choices are designed to help coaches look good in the interim and have championship teams that for some reason become below average as the years go along (amazingly that coach is smart enough to leave after U13 where size counts little). I think its a disservice to their overall development.

ENERGYFC04 wrote:i'm tired of seeing coaches take these kids who are overmatched in every area of the game minus one particular area (ie corners). Or coaches taking kids who are simply big and fast but have little redeemable skills. These choices are designed to help coaches look good in the interim and have championship teams that for some reason become below average as the years go along (amazingly that coach is smart enough to leave after U13 where size counts little). I think its a disservice to their overall development.

Or, devil's advocate....they're hoping they can take a kid with some strong points and develop his/her overall game.

Still trying to figure out what assumptions your referring to and/or why they are incorrect. From rereading my posts (and limiting it to discussion of Griffin) these are what i can tell are my assumptions:

1. Griffin has good players2. Griffin is not comprised of the 10 - 14 best players in the state.3. Griffin's kids would most like make a pool of the top 40 kids in the state.4. Griffin as currently constructed is the best team in the state.5. The sum of a team is greater than its individual parts.6. As a team Griffin's depth with players 10 - 14 is what sets them apart in OK.7. Will the current Griffin players all remain top players for TSC in the future, no.8. Substandard competition in OCL and OPL silver could possibly harm them but maybe they make up for it by more competitive practices.9. TSC view of soccer is not always grounded in reality.10. If TSC coaches are worth anything they will care less about what team a player was on but rather how a player fits a system and pick the best players.11. TSC is on a mission to destroy Blitz.12. Some kids and parents' world is going to be rocked come tryouts.

Now, I'm not a rocket science but those were the specific comments i believe were directed at TSC and more particular Griffin's team. I'm curious as to how these assumptions are incorrect.

Still trying to figure out what assumptions your referring to and/or why they are incorrect. From rereading my posts (and limiting it to discussion of Griffin) these are what i can tell are my assumptions:

1. Griffin has good players2. Griffin is not comprised of the 10 - 14 best players in the state.3. Griffin's kids would most like make a pool of the top 40 kids in the state.4. Griffin as currently constructed is the best team in the state.5. The sum of a team is greater than its individual parts.6. As a team Griffin's depth with players 10 - 14 is what sets them apart in OK.7. Will the current Griffin players all remain top players for TSC in the future, no.8. Substandard competition in OCL and OPL silver could possibly harm them but maybe they make up for it by more competitive practices.9. TSC view of soccer is not always grounded in reality.10. If TSC coaches are worth anything they will care less about what team a player was on but rather how a player fits a system and pick the best players.11. TSC is on a mission to destroy Blitz.12. Some kids and parents' world is going to be rocked come tryouts.

Now, I'm not a rocket science but those were the specific comments i believe were directed at TSC and more particular Griffin's team. I'm curious as to how these assumptions are incorrect.

Still trying to figure out what assumptions your referring to and/or why they are incorrect. From rereading my posts (and limiting it to discussion of Griffin) these are what i can tell are my assumptions:

1. Griffin has good players2. Griffin is not comprised of the 10 - 14 best players in the state.3. Griffin's kids would most like make a pool of the top 40 kids in the state.4. Griffin as currently constructed is the best team in the state.5. The sum of a team is greater than its individual parts.6. As a team Griffin's depth with players 10 - 14 is what sets them apart in OK.7. Will the current Griffin players all remain top players for TSC in the future, no.8. Substandard competition in OCL and OPL silver could possibly harm them but maybe they make up for it by more competitive practices.9. TSC view of soccer is not always grounded in reality.10. If TSC coaches are worth anything they will care less about what team a player was on but rather how a player fits a system and pick the best players.11. TSC is on a mission to destroy Blitz.12. Some kids and parents' world is going to be rocked come tryouts.

Now, I'm not a rocket science but those were the specific comments i believe were directed at TSC and more particular Griffin's team. I'm curious as to how these assumptions are incorrect.

Still trying to figure out what assumptions your referring to and/or why they are incorrect. From rereading my posts (and limiting it to discussion of Griffin) these are what i can tell are my assumptions:

1. Griffin has good players2. Griffin is not comprised of the 10 - 14 best players in the state.3. Griffin's kids would most like make a pool of the top 40 kids in the state.4. Griffin as currently constructed is the best team in the state.5. The sum of a team is greater than its individual parts.6. As a team Griffin's depth with players 10 - 14 is what sets them apart in OK.7. Will the current Griffin players all remain top players for TSC in the future, no.8. Substandard competition in OCL and OPL silver could possibly harm them but maybe they make up for it by more competitive practices.9. TSC view of soccer is not always grounded in reality.10. If TSC coaches are worth anything they will care less about what team a player was on but rather how a player fits a system and pick the best players.11. TSC is on a mission to destroy Blitz.12. Some kids and parents' world is going to be rocked come tryouts.

Now, I'm not a rocket science but those were the specific comments i believe were directed at TSC and more particular Griffin's team. I'm curious as to how these assumptions are incorrect.

Still trying to figure out what assumptions your referring to and/or why they are incorrect. From rereading my posts (and limiting it to discussion of Griffin) these are what i can tell are my assumptions:

1. Griffin has good players2. Griffin is not comprised of the 10 - 14 best players in the state.3. Griffin's kids would most like make a pool of the top 40 kids in the state.4. Griffin as currently constructed is the best team in the state.5. The sum of a team is greater than its individual parts.6. As a team Griffin's depth with players 10 - 14 is what sets them apart in OK.7. Will the current Griffin players all remain top players for TSC in the future, no.8. Substandard competition in OCL and OPL silver could possibly harm them but maybe they make up for it by more competitive practices.9. TSC view of soccer is not always grounded in reality.10. If TSC coaches are worth anything they will care less about what team a player was on but rather how a player fits a system and pick the best players.11. TSC is on a mission to destroy Blitz.12. Some kids and parents' world is going to be rocked come tryouts.

Now, I'm not a rocket science but those were the specific comments i believe were directed at TSC and more particular Griffin's team. I'm curious as to how these assumptions are incorrect.

That's why I'm here! To stir the pot and get a rise... Are Williams parents funny? I don't know them. I'm a ref that's bored and lots of time on my hands... My daughter isn't even on the radar. Have you ever heard of Brooks?